Plural-speed friction drive mechanism



Aug. 15, 1950 P. s. GAY 2,518,769

PLURAL-SPEED FRICTION DiRIVE MECHANISM Filqd June 18, 1949 6Sheets-$heet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Aug. 15, 1950 Rs. GAY I 2,518,769

PLURALSPEED FRICTION DRIVE mzcmmsu Filed June 18,- 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 21a I0 042 I 20 Aug. 15, 1950 Y P, s, GAY 2,513,769

PLURAL-SFEED mzcrr'ou DRIVE uscx-mmsu Filed June 18, 1949 sSheeiis-SheefS I. F 9 EN 0R.

Aug. 15, 1950 P. s. GAY 2,518,769

PLURAL-SPEED FRICTION DRIVE MECHANISM Filed June 18, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet5 CC OF FIG. IO

T-J/ BY Aug. 15, 1950 s. GAY 2,518,769

PLURAL-SPEED FRICTION DRIVE MECHANISM Filed June 18, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet6 VII/Il paw-( INIVENTOR.

BY W

Patented Aug. 15, 1950 PLURAL-SPEED FRICTION DRIVE MECHANISM Paul SteadGay, Elyria, Ohio, assignor to Tlie General Industries Company, Elyria,Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Continuation of application Serial No. 83,665,

March 26, 1949.

1949, Serial No. 99,914

20 Claims.

, 1 My invention relates to a plural speed friction drive mechanismadapted to be applied to drive phonograph turntables at any of aplurality of selected speeds.

My invention relates more particularly to a plural speed mechanismadapted to be so interfltted with a support for a rotatable turntablehaving a pendant annular flange that a final drive wheel of themechanism may peripherally frictionally engage a lateral surface of saidflange to drive the turntable, and wherein any of a plurality, such asthree, of idler pulleys are successively adapted for selectiveadjustment movement to an operative position, which is located betweenlaterally adjacent portions of peripheral surfaces of a motor drivenpulley and a laterally movable wheel of preferably greater diameter thanany operative portion of the aforesaid pulleys, and said pulleys beingeach provided with upper and lower pulley portions, one of said portionsbeing disposed at the level of said driving pulley, and the other beingdisposed at the level of the peripheral rim of said wheel, and therelative diameters of at least one portion of each said idler pulleybeing relatively different, as between different of said idler pulleys,so that said pulleys, when driven by said drive'pulley, may drive saididler wheel at relatively different speeds.

My invention relates also to improved means This application June 18,

including indexing means and spring means for 7 yieldably maintainingany said selectively adjusted idler pulley in an efficientdriven'relation to said motor pulley and in eflicient driving relationto said wheel, and whereby said wheel is exposed to a resilient effortexerted by an element of said'spring means to yieldably maintain saidwheel in peripheral engagement with a relatively driving portion of saidselected idler pulley, and concurrently, when said mechanism is disposedin operative relation to an annular flange of a rotatable turntable, toalso yieldably maintain said wheel in spring-pressed peripheralfrictional driving engagement with a lateral surface of said flange.

With respect to the improved means herein disclosed for selectivelydriving the idler wheel at plural speeds, my invention in some aspects,represents an improvement over "mechanism disclosed in the pendingapplication for patentof Frank M. Slough, Serial No. 54,246 flledOctober 13, 1948, being distinguished therefrom in the facility withwhich three or more turntable speeds are readily achieved, and in thesimple arrangement of inexpensive operative parts which perface and ofthe turntable driving wheel of the mechanism.

Objects of my invention include the following:

To provide an improved plural speed friction drive mechanism adapted toefiect rotation of an idler wheel, at a selected one of a plurality ofspeeds, said wheel being adapted for disposition in horizontal alignmentwith, and whose rim is adapted for frictional driving engagement with,an annular element of a turntable such as a pendant peripheral flangethereof, whereby said idler wheel and the turntable may be selectivelydriven at any of a plurality of different rotational speeds.

To achieve the driving of such an idler wheel at a plurality of speedsin an improved manner including the selective positioning of a selectedone of three or more idler friction pulleys, each having correspondinglyupper pulley portions of relatively difierent diameters, between saididler wheel and a driving pulley, the latter being driven by an electricmotor in any suitable way, and preferably by making said driving pulleyan element of the motor shaft, and wherein a lower portion of any saidselectively positioned idler pulley is yieldably resiliently maintainedin peripheral engagement with said driving pulley, and said idler wheelis independently yieldably resiliently maintained in peripheralengagement with an upper portion of the same said selected idler pulley.

To achieve, in an improved manner, the interpositioning of any one ofany desired plurality of friction pulleys between a relatively smallermotor driven pulley, and the relatively larger idler wheel, said pulleyshaving upper portions which are of relatively different diametricalsizes, whereby the idler wheel which is adapted for peripheralengagement with an annular surface of a phonograph turntable to drivethe same, may be driven at different speeds each of which is closelyconimensurable with the gdiameter of the concurrently, selected andoperating one of said pulleys.

To achieve any of the foregoing objects in an improved mechanism whereinthe idler wheel ls resilienty constrained toward peripheral engagementwith the driving surface of a selected one of said pulleys, and whereinthe selected pulley is resiliently constrained in peripheral engagementwith the relatively stationary motordriven primary driving pulley,whereby eccentric or irregular rotative movements of any peripheralportion oi. any of said pulleys or of said wheel, and also any suchdepartures from true annularity of a driven turntable flange, oreccentric movement of any portion thereof, are emcientl compensated for,as a result of automatic floating, yieldably restrained, movements ofthe selected idler pulley or of said wheel.

To achieve any or all of the foregoing objects in a mechanism wherebythrough utilization of a plurality of idler pulleys preferably equal innumber to the number of desired speeds of a turntable to be driven, eachpulley havin a pair of relatively superposed pulley portions, andwherein one set of portions disposed at the same level may, throughcalculated differences in their diameters be effective to achieveselective driving of the final drive wheel of the mechanism at desireddifierent rotative speeds.

To provide an improved. plural-speed drive mechanism adapted forapplication to a phonograph turntable flange, comprising a plurality ofsequentially disposed frictionally peripherally engaged pairs of pulleyelements of which one of the elements of each pair is provided with atriotion rim of rubber or like friction, slightly compressible,non-sound conduction material, to prevent motor or other noises involvedin the driving of the mechanism, from reaching the turntable so that thereproduction of records disposed upon said turntable may not be adverse-1y affected by transmission of an appreciable portion of said noises toany such record.

To provide an improved drive mechanism for phonograph turntables wherebyany or all of the foregoing objects may be achieved and which may beunitarily removably secured to a platform which rotatably supports aphonograph turntable either as original or replacement driving means forsuch turntable.

To provide an improved drive mechanism for phonograph turntables wherebyany or all of the foregoing objects may be achieved and which comprisesa speed selecting handle which is adapted for movement in a path whichis ofuniform directional nature throughout to a plurality of adjustmentpositions which are interspaced in said path.

To provide an improved drive mechanism for phonograph turntables wherebyany or all of the foregoing objects may be achieved wherein the degreeof pressure exerted between the peripheral pulley portions of seriallyrelated pairs of friction driving elements of the mechanism of which onethereof is the final drive friction wheel of the mechanism, is initiallydetermined by the force exerted by yieldable spring means of themechanism and wherein during the driving of said turntable by said wheelthe degree of such pressure engagement is variably increased accordingto the load imposed upon said wheel by the driven turntable.

To provide an improved drive mechanism for phonograph turntables wherebyany or all of the foregoing objects may be achieved wherein the degreeof pressure exerted between the peripheral pulley portions of seriallyrelated pairs of friction driving elements of the mechanism of which onethereof is the final drive friction wheel of the mechanism which isinitially determined by the force exerted by yieldable spring means ofthe mechanism.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will be apparentto those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains from thedisclosures of this application and as set 4 forth in'the specificationhereof and illustrated in the drawings of said specification, and insaid drawings:

'Fig. 1 illustrates in top plan view an embodiment of my inventionshownas applied to the driving of a phonograph turntable, a pendantperipheral flange portion thereof being alone shown in horizontalsection and with a portion of the idler wheel indicated as broken awayto expose details of parts disposed therebelow;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, but wherein a showing of theidler wheel is omitted and its position indicated by a dotted linecircle, and the apparatus being shown in a different selective positionof adjustment;

Fig.3 is a view similar to the foregoing figures, the idler wheelshowing being also omitted and the apparatus being shown in a thirdadjustment position;

Fig; 4 is a vertical sectional view as from the line 4-4 'of Fig. l, theshowing of the turntable being limited to a fragment of the turntabletop and pendant flange which is respectively disposed above and beyondthe illustrated apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a view taken from the line 55 of Fig. 2, the showing of theturntable being in vertical cross-section;

Fig. 6 is a view of a manually adjustable swinging lever having a handleportion which is employed for the purpose of selectively pre-determiningthe rotational speed of the idler wheel which is adapted to drive theturntable;

Fig. '7 is a section taken on the line 1-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 illustrates in top plan view a second embodiment of my inventionshown as applied to the driving of a phonographic turntable at a minimumspeed, the view being otherwise of the same general character as that ofFig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a. View similar to that of Fig. 8 but showing the partsrelatively adjusted to effect driving of the turntable at a selectedintermediate speed.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to that of Fig. 8 showing the parts relativelyadjusted to effect driving of the turntable at a selected maximum speed.

Fig. 11 is 'a view mostly in side elevation with a, portion of theturntable and its supporting plate shown in vertical section and a lowerfragmental portion of the motor being shown as broken away, the viewbeing one taken as from the line AA of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to that of Fig. 11 taken from the line 3-8 ofFig. 9, and in this view a lesser lateral portion of the turntable isshown.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to that of Figs. 11 and 12 being taken fromthe line 0-0 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a. manually operable lever having a handleextension.

Fig. 15 shows in plan view, a pair of superposed adjustment lever platescomprising an uppermost turret plate and therebelow the lever of Fig. 14in assembled relation upon a fragment of the common mounting plate forthe mechanism of said second embodiment, certain of the parts beingshown as broken away to show portions of the other downwardly disposedparts.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view on the line D-D of Fig. 15 showingin-vertical cross-section an indexing pawl lever and a fragment of thesupporting plate of the mechanism upon the lower side of which saidlever is journalled to swing, and through an aperture of which anupwardly projecting pawl element, also shown in 76 Fig. 15. extends.

Fig. 17 is a vertical cross-section taken on a line of section E-E ofFig. 8.

Fig. 18 is a side elevational view of a stationary mount for a wheelcarrier element which is fixedly secured to the frame-plate upon whichall parts of the drive mechanism are mounted.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of an element employed in interconnectinga controlling and a controlled lever plate with the main frame of themechanism and for affording a swinging axis for said lever plate.

Fig. 20 is a view-in transverse vertical section of the interconnectingmeans referred to in connection with Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a plan view of an idler rying turret plate.

Fig. 22 is a top plan view of the assembly of the turret plate lever ofFig. 2l with an actuating handle plate lever and other ancillary parts,portions of the illustrated parts being broken away to expose otherparts located therebelow.

Referring now first to the first embodiment of my invention shown inFigs. 1 to '7 inclusive, and in all of which like parts are designatedby like reference characters, a typical turntable I having a peripheralpendant flange la is shown mounted in a known manner to rotate about thevertical axis of a turntable post 2, Figs. 1, 4 and 5, said post beingcommonly journalled to rotate in bearings 2a which are carried on such asupport as the illustrated main plate 5.

The apparatus of my invention is shown in operative relation to suchmain plate and turntable, and the elements thereof are all unitarilysupported on a frame in the form of a plate 3 having three laterallyextending lugs 4, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, apertured as at 4a, whereby theplate 3 may be pendantly and removably attached by screws 4b to any suchmain plate as that shown at 5, direct metal to metal contact between theplates 3. and 5 and between the screws 4b and the plate 3 beingprevented by interposing rubber grommet insulating means 6 between saidplates and screws in a known manner.

As stated in the preamble hereto, a phonograph turntable flange, such asthat shown at la, is adapted to be driven by the final drive wheel I ofthe unitary mechanism, at three different rotational speeds as a resultof driving the idler wheel 1 at different peripheral speeds whichrespectively correspond to' the three peripheral speeds of theturntable.

The supporting plate 3 is adapted to be so positioned, relatively to therotatable turntable, that the wheel I is preferably disposed at theproper level, and in such a lateral position, as to permit the rubberrim or tread 1a of the idler wheel to preferably peripherallyfrictionally engage the inner annular surface of the pendant turntableflange Ia, as shown in Fig. 5, reference being also had moreparticularly to Fig. 1.

The idler wheel is suitably slidably mounted on a carrier 8 which ismounted on a plate 3 in a known manner so as to permit the wheel I tomove laterally, within limits, in any desired direction, and as anexample of known appropriate means to accomplish such a mounting, I haveherein illustrated the means which comprises a carrier element 8, saidcarrier having two pairs of laterally and oppositely extending wings 9,each of said wings being formed with a laterally open guide slot, saidslots affording slideways for the-two arms H), of a bifurcated slidemember upon the web portion |2 of which, an upstanding pulley carjournalpost I3 is provided, the idler wheel I being journalled upon said post.

The carrier element 8, in the exemplary idler wheel mounting, isprovided with a hub 8a as journalled on an upstanding post 80 whoselower end is secured to the supplemental plate 3, and said carri r withthe slide and wheel is thereby adapted t be laterally swung about theaxis of said post 30. Other known means for permitting universal lateralmovement of the idler wheel post may be substituted for that shown anddescribed.

A retractile spring I5 is secured at one end to a downward extension l6of the idler wheel post l3 and at the other end to a pin I! which isrigidly aflixed by riveting to the plate 3, said spring |5 beingdirected laterally and angularly with respect to the wheel journal postI3, tends to swing the wheel I about the post 80, and to slide thewheel, with its supporting slide laterally outwardly from the carrier 8,in the longitudinal direction thereof.

The mechanism of my invention is characterized by the provision of anidler pulley carrier in the form of a lever plate 25, which functions asa turret, and which carries three idler pulleys l8, 2| and 24 at theuppermost side of an armate portion of the said turret plate, said platebeing journalled to swing about a slightly shiftable axis whichcorresponds to the longitudinal axis of a screw 30, Fig. 7, which isemployed to secure the turretlike plate 26 in superposed relation to themounting plate 3.

The frame plate 3 is provided with an elongated aperture 32, havingsubstantially straight side edge portions, whose major dimension extendsin a horizontal direction which is substantially'aligned with the axesof the motor shaft 40, and of the idler wheel post I3.

A washer 29, having a lowermost radial flange, also has an upwardlyextending tubular flange 3|, of such less diameter that it may projectupwardly from below the plate 3 through the elongated aperture 32, intoengagement with the under surface of the turret plate 26, and is securedto said plate by the screw 30 whose head engages the lower surface ofthe washer and.

which is screw-threaded into the threaded aperture 32' of the plate 26.

The above means for securing the plate 26 to the underlying mountingplate 3 permits the plate to be swung about the axis of said screw 30and at the same time permits a small amount of lateral shifting movementof the turret plate in such a direction as to move said screw 30 and itswasher 29 a slight distance toward and from the axis of the motor shaft40, for a purpose later set forth.

The pulleys l8, 2| and 24, each have an upper and a lower pulleyportion, all pulleys being preferably of similar construction andpreferably only differing in the variable diameters of the upperportions of said pulleys, it being preferred, however, that in thepresent embodiment the lower pulley portions of all of said idlerpulleys l8, 2| and 24 shall be of the same diameter.

In the embodiment illustrated, the idler pulleys l8, 2| and 24 are eachindependently journalled for rotation upon a different one of the threeposts, such as that shown at l4, Fig. 7. Each of said posts H has itslower end 25 rigidly riveted to the swingable turret plate 25, and ispreferably provided with a medial anular groove 34 and another anularbut narrower groove 35 near its upper end portion; a split wire ring35;;

' is fltted within the groove 35 to prevent longitudinal displacingmovement of a pulley upon its post.

Each pulley comprises a metallic tubular body preferably having a radialflange at 52, said flange substantially in the form of that shown inFig. 7, being similar with respect to all pulleys,

- although the upper pulley portions 20 and 38 of pulleys i8 and 2| areof lesser diameter than said flange, and the upper pulley portion 31 forthe pulley 24 is of greater diameter than the flange portion 52, andtherefore in the case of the pulley 24 the portions 52 and 31 might besaid to be in the nature of a stepped flange, the uppermost step 31 oflargest diameter functioning as the upper pulley portion of the pulley24.

In the case of each of the pulley bodies 5|, the upper end of the boreof each said body is closed against passage and loss of lubricant by theprovision of a sealing plug 33 of solder or other suitable lubricantsealing material, and the upper end of the post i4 is adapted to engagethe under side of said plug 33. The annular grooves 34 and 35 of thepost H are adapted to contain lubricant, which is prevented from passingoutwardly in the direction through the upper end of the body by the plug33.

Each of the pulleys is provided with an underlying felt or similarlubricant absorbing washer 54 interposed below the lower end of eachpulley body and the upper surface of the turret plate 26. Frictionalengagement between each split ring 35a. and the lateral wall of theaxial bore of the associated pulley body 5|, restrains each said pulleyfrom being upwardly displaced while in use, although permitting manuallyeffected removal.

motor shaft 40, is pendantly carried by the supplemental plate 3 beingsecured to said plate in any suitable way such as by machine screwsorbolts 41 and 42, the latter having a co-operative nut 43 disposedabove the plate 3 which also serves to clamp a leaf spring element 44,by its flange 44a later to be described in desired operative position.

In order to selectively pre-determine the peripheral speed at which theidler wheel and therefore an idler engaged turntable may be driven, Iprovide an exceedingly simple, positively operable adjustment turretlever plate 26.

Fig. 6 shows in plan view the turret plate lever 26 which is fulcrumedat 21 to function as a control lever having a handle 28. Said plate 26is apertured at 48, the latter aperture being of preferably elongatedarcuate form for the purpose of permitting the motor shaft 48 which atits upper end carries the pulley 4| to be telescoped upwardlytherethrough, without interfering with operative swinging movements ofsaid lever plate 26.

The lever 28 afiords an arcuate portion having successive aperturescorresponding to that shown at 55, Fig. 7, in order to accommodate thelower ends. such as at 25, Fig. 7, of the three journal posts for thepulleys i8, 2| and 24, said ends being preferably riveted in place insaid apertures all of which are like that shownat 55, Fig. '7.

The arcuate edge 56 of the lever plate 26 is provided with successivenotches at 24a, 2|a and |8a, the notches being each located in alignmentwith said turret-plate aperture 32 and one of the respective apertures55, and are adapted for the purpose of receiving the hook detent portion44b of the spring 44, when said lever 26 is swung on its said axis 21 tothree diil'erent operative adjustment positions, said detent beingsuccessively received within the different notches l8a, 2|a. and 24a,assuming clockwise rotation of the handie 28 of said lever about itssaid axis 21 from the faces constructed of rubber or equivalent frictiondrive material through which vibrational sounds may not be noticeablycommunicated to the thereby engaged pulley, or turntable flange.

Therefore, the idler wheel 1 is provided with a cushioning rubberperipheral tread Hz for engagement with the metallic surface of theturntable flange la, which it is adapted to engage, and for the samereason the driving surfaces of the upper pulley portions 20, 38 and 31of the idler pulleys l8, 2|, and 24, are metallic, but each of the saidupper metallic pulley portions are adapted to be selectively engagedwith the rubber or similar sound insulating tread 1a of the idler wheel,which affords an efficient frictional engagement with said metallicidler pulley surfaces.

For the same reasons, the treads comprising the annular pulley portionsI9 for the lower pulley portion of each of the said idler pulleys, andwhich are selectively adapted for successive engagement with themetallic motor driven pulley 4|, also, are made of rubber or likematerial, shown l9, Big. '7, for each of said lower pulley portions.

In order to drive the herein disclosed mechanism, an electric motor suchas the motor shown at M, Figs. 4 and 5, having an upwardly directedposition indicated for such lever in Fig. 1.

The three pulleys l8, 2| and 24 being disposed in substantiallyarcuately interspaced relative poitions as shown, when the lever handle28 is swung from the position shown in Fig. 3, to that shown in Fig. 2,and thereafter to the position shown in Fig. 1, it will be noted fromthese drawings that whereas in Fig. 3, when the lower pulley portion ofthe idler pulley 24 is initially engaged with the motor pulley 4|, andthe spring detent 44b is in the notch 24a, and when the plate handle 28is swung to move the notches 2ia and |8a successively to permit saiddetent to successively enter said notches 2|a and i8a, that concurrentlythe lower pulley portions is of the pulleys 2| and i8 are alsosuccessively disposed in engagement with said motor pulley 4|, sincethey successively take substantially the identical position with respectto said motor pulley previously assumed by the initially engaged pulley24.

In this connection it is important to note that when any of the lowerpulley portions of said idler pulleys are thus selectively engaged withthe motor pulley 4|, that the axis of the selectively operative idlerpulley and that of the common motor shaft pulley 4|, are substantiallyin alignment with the swinging axis of the turret lever 26.

Also in the three diiferent operative positions of the lever 26, whileth rubber rim of the lower pulley portion of any particular selectedidler pulley 24 is engaged, as described, with the motor 9 pulley 4|,its associated metallic upper pulley portion 81, 38 or 20 isconcurrently engaged with the rubber peripheral rim Ia of the idlerwheel I, which engagement is resiliently maintained by the tensionspring I5.

Expressed otherwise, the three different illustrated operative positionsof the lever handle 28 respectively permit the idler wheel 1 to befrictionally driven by the upper pulley portion of any of thepulleys24,"2| or l8, whose lower pulley portion at that time is operativelypositioned-in frictional engagement with the motor pulley 4|.

The elongated opening 32in the plate 3 is provided for the purpose ofpermitting the lever plate 26 to yieldably move a slight amount ineither opposite direction defined by a line passed through the alignedaxis 36 of the lever, and the rotative axes of the shaft 40, and anyoperative] positioned idler pulley.

Such movement in one direction resulting from the pressure of the leafspring 44 whose detent portion 44b is always in pressure engagement withsaid lever plate 26 at a point of engagement whose location depends uponthe adjustment of the lever.

The degree of pressure engagement between the periphery of the lowerpulley portion of a selected idler pulley and the motor pulley 4| maythus be limited to that pressure which is exerted by said spring 44 withthe added increment of pressure which is supplied by the peripheralengagement of the idler wheel I with the upper portion of the selectedpulley, and caused by the relatively light tension spring |5 whichmaintains the idler wheel in concurrent engagement with the turntableflange la and the upper pulley of the selected idler pulley.

The leaf spring 44 normally deflects the turret lever plate 26 in adirection extending from the spring detent 44b towards the axis of thelever plate, and therefore when the plate 26 is swung the successivelyengaged idler pulley and the plate are deflected in the oppositedirection against the pressure of said leaf spring 44. The springs 44and I5 of which that at 44 is preferably so made as to exert a greaterforce, constitute two elements of spring means which limit andpredetermine the degree of pressure engagement of each of the twosuperposed portions 5| and I9 of an operatively disposed selected pulleywith respectively the idler wheel rim la and driving pulley surface 4|,and also the pressure of engagement of said wheel rim Ia and the innerannular surface la of an associated turntable flange I.

In every adjustment position the operatively positioned one of saididler pulley is engaged by its upper portion 5| with a closelycorresponding point on the periphery of the wheel rim which, withrespect to the wheel axis, is so angularly related to the portion ofsuch periphery which is engageable with a turntable flange that radii ofsaid wheel extended to said point and said portion of the wheelperiphery will define an obtuse angle which in the embodiment of Figs. 1to 6 inclusive is nearly 120 and more than 110.

The obtuse angle relationship between the pulley driven and turntabledriving portions of the wheel rim periphery which are engageable by adriving of one of the idler pulleys is preferred for the reason thatwhen the wheel and turntable are driven in the clockwise direction thewheel tends to recessionally roll upon and travel upon the turntableflange thus causing said wheel to tend to move in a direction towardsthe space between the engaged'portion of the turntable flange and thewheel-engaged pulley portion 6|. The wheel diameter is sufficientlygreater than the width of such of said space and therefore with onlytangible efiect of the rolling tendency of the driven wheel I is to,increase the pressure of peripheral engagement between said wheel andsaid operatively engaged one of said idler pulleys, which is in positionto bar such rolling translatory movement of the wheel under the normalcondition of operation when the wheel viewed from above is' rotated inthe clockwise direction. I

By virtue of this inward rolling tendency by he wheel 1, the action ofthe spring l5 upon said wheel is reinforced and therefore is notrequired to exert as great a laterally directed effort on said wheel awould be the case if such rolling effect were absent.

It will be understood that in the illustrated preferred embodiment of myinvention, I preferably make the lower pulley portions of each of thethree idler pulleys of corresponding diameters, whereby by shifting anyof said idler pulleys to the driving operative position, the resultingperipheral speed of the idler wheel and therefore the peripheral speedof the driven turntable flange will be substantially in proportion tothe diameter of the upper pulley portion of the selected pulley.

Therefore, in the drawings I have shown or have attempted to show theupper pulley portions of the pulleys l8, 2| and 24 of respectivediameters which are close to the ratio of 33, 45 and 78 in order toselectively achieve turntable rotational speeds of respectively 33, 45and '78 R. P. M.

The spring detent 44b is effective to supply a proper amount of pressureto the turret plate 26 to effect proper pressure engagement between thelower pulley portions l6 and the motor drive pulley 4| which may eitherbe afforded by the motor shaft or driven thereby in any suitable way;The pressure of the detent spring 44b is effective to so dispose theplate 26 that the tubular flange of the securing-washer 3| will take aposition intermediatethe end edges of the aperture 32.

Referring now to the second embodiment of my invention, as before, theturntable is shown at and its peripheral pendant flange at la and theplate supporting all parts of the mechanism being shown at 3, said platebeing adapted to be suitably interfitted to the platform or mountingframe 5 upon which the turntable post 2 is journalled, the journalcasing being best shown at 2a, Fig. 11.

It will be noted that the idler wheel while being carried upon the web51 of a bifurcated slide element 63 having a pair of parallel forks 58and 59, substantially as in the first embodi ment that instead of thecarrier for said slide being rotatable, in the present embodiment, theforks of the slide are disposed between upper and lower verticallyinterspaced spool flanges 60' and 6| of a stationary spool-like mount10, said forks being slidably disposed between opposing surfaces of saidflanges and loosely slidably en-.- gageable, by their inner edges, witha portion of the spool body disposed between the flanges. Below thelowermost flange 6| of the mount 16, a downwardly projecting base 62 isadapted to be seated upon the upper surface of the frame plate 3 andrigidly secured to said plate by riveting the reduced lower end of saidbase within an aperture of said plate.

The slide is adapted to be moved inwardly and outwardly in thelongitudinal direction of its arms and also is free to swing about theaxis of the carrier I9. The slide 93 is limited'in its outward movementby the provision of a pin 94 projected through one of the slide arms 99and projecting above and below said arm, said pin adapted to engage withthe peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower spool flanges 99 and 9|upon maximum longitudinal movement of said slide arms between saidflanges to restrain said slide to a maximum of longitudinal movement ofsaid arms.

The above described stationary carrier, of the second embodiment, hasbeen found to satisfy all requirements in a very eilicient manner and isless expensive to manufacture than the slide carrier of the firstdescribed embodiment. k

The second embodiment of my invention involves the provision of threeidler pulleys 95, 99 and 91 which are mounted .on a swingably turretlikeplate 9| which corresponds generally to the lever plate 29 of the firstembodiment, and similarly, the said three idler pulleys have upper andlower pulley portions of which the lower portion are provided withrubber treads I99, each preferably of the same diameter and upper pulleyportions l5, l9 and I1, said upper pulley portions being of differentdiameters which are proportional to the different peripheral speeds ofthe final drive wheel 99, which is, like the wheel I of the firstembodiment, likewise proportional to the resulting rates of rotation ofthe turntable I when the turntable flange la is selectively singlyengaged'by said pulley portions.

In the second embodiment also, the diameters of the pulley-portions ofsaid idler pulleys are of somewhat lesser .diameters than thecorresponding portions of corresponding of said pulleys employed in thesaid first embodiment. By virtue of the use of pulleys having upper andlower portions of relatively reduced diameters, these can be morecompactly arcuately disposed so that, with the axes of the idler pulleysdisposed concentrically with the swinging axis 92 of the plate 9|, theaxes of the laterally outermost pulleys 65 and 91 are angularlyseparated by an angle of about 60", whereas the corresponding angle inthe said first embodiment is about 90,- even though in both cases theradial distance of said idler pulley axes from said swinging axis 92happens to be equal.

element being swingable about the same axis.

The relat vely small projection 93 of the handle element I29 issubstantially narrower than the diameter of the circular aperture 94 ofthe turret plate through which it loosely projects and when the handleis manually swung, the handle element I29 will swing about its axis anamount indicated by the relative displacement indicated in Fig. asbetween the solid line handle edge |29a and the dotted line showing ofsaid edge at I29b.

Therefore, the handle I29 will move the above said indicated distancebefore the leading edge of the upward projection 93 of said handleelement engages the edge or the circular opening 94,

12 whereupon further manually effected movement of said handle I29 willcommunicate to said turret plate through the instrumentality of saidprojection 99 a tractive eilfort causing said turret plate to move withsaid handle toward a desired position of adjustment of said turretplate.

It will be understood that the lowermost handle lever plate I29 and therelatively uppermost superposed turret plate 9| are swingable on thesame vertical axis 92 which corresponds to the axis .of a short machinescrew IIII which secures the said plates I29 and 9| together at theupper side of the-frame plate 3.

cooperatively associated with the screw H9 is an axially bored elementIII having a.lowermost radially extending annular flange II Ia and anupstanding stem in the form of a tubular flange IIIb. the element IIIhaving a vertical axial bore IIIc which is of slightly greater diameterthan, the threaded stem of the screw II9, said stem being of somewhatgreater length than the vertical extent of the element III.

The frame-plate 3 is provided with an elongated aperture 3a whose majoraxis is shorter than the diameter of the radially flanged portlon Illaof the element II I. The turret plate 9| is provided with a threadedaperture 99 into which the extreme threaded end of the screw I I9 isadapted to be screw-threaded. The handle plate I29 is provided with acircular aperture I29b whose diameter is such as to loosely receive thetubular flange lb of the element III and also the underside of theturret plate 9| is provided with a shallow recess 9") which isconcentric with, and oi greater diameter than, the threaded aperture 95.

To assemble the two relatively superposed plates 9| and I29 at the upperside of the frameplate 3 so as to facilitate swinging movement of eachor both of said plates about the axis 92, the stem of the screw III! isprojected upwardly through the bore of the element III which in turn isdisposed with its radial flange IIIa below the plate 3 and covering theelongated aperture 3a and said tubular flange passing through theaperture |28d of the handle plate I29 to project the upper end of saidtubular flange into the shallow recess 9Ib of the turret plate 9| andthe extreme end of said screw being tightly screwthreaded into thethreaded aperture 95 of the said turret plate.

The length of the tubular flange II lb of the screw H9 is such that theplate 9| is vertically interspaced from the frame-plate 3 apre-determined distance in order to permit free swinging movement of theintermediate handle plate I 29 on the said axis 92.

Since the major axis of the elongated aperture 3a is substantially inexcess of the diameter of the tubular flange II I b of the element I II, while the minor axis of said aperture is very slightly in excess ofthe diameter of said tubular flange, the assembly of said screw III! andsaid element III, which afford a swinging axis for the two plates 9| andI29, said relatively assembled screw and element III are laterallyshiftable in the opposite directions of extent of said major axiswhereby the swinging axis of said plates is correspondingly laterallyshiftable.

Detent means for ensuring definite operative positions of adjustment ofthe turret plate 9| and also of the handle plate I29 are hereinprovided. being in the form of a swingable detent lever I44, pivoted bya rivet element I42 having a lowermost enlarged flat head I43 and arivet l3 head at its upper end. I, and said lever hav ing an upwardlyextending detent pin I44b secured by its lower end to an intermediateportion of said lever I44.

The pin I44b is so disposed as to extend upwardly through a relativelylarger circular aperture I39 of the frame-plate 3, to facilitateswinging movements of said lever, to the free end I38 of which, at I3'I,one end of a helical tension spring I36 is secured, the outer end ofsaid spring being anchored to a post I extending downwardly from thesupporting plate 3.

Said spring exerts a resilient effort tending to move the free end-ofsaid lever I44 from the solid line position shown in Fig. 15 to thedotted line position thereof, and in order to achieve said dotted lineposition, the detent pin I44b must have entered one or the other ofthree relatively arcuately interspaced detent notches I24 of the handleelement I28 and also must have entered v a correspondingly disposed oneof the three corre'spondingly arcuately disposed and correspondinglyinterspaced notches of the turret plate 9I.

From the foregoing description of the swingable detent lever I44 pivotedat I42 and being resiliently and yieldably constrained by a spring I36to cause the detent projection I44b of said lever to engage, andlaterally exert pressure against, both of the superposed plates 9| andI28, the effect of such spring pressure tends to move the relativelyassembled plates 9| and I28 and the elements affording the swinging axis92 therefor in such a direction as to move the tubular flange I I lb ofthe element III in the direction of the major axis of said elongatedaperture 3a of the plate 3 as will tend to cause said tubular flange ofthe element III to approach that one of the arcuate ends of saidaperture, which is more remote-from the detent pin I44b of the leverI44; the last described effect of the spring pressure exerted by thespring I36, is for the purpose of resiliently, but yieldably, urging anyoperatively positioned idler pulley in such a lateral direction as tomaintain the periphery of the lower pulley portion I90 of any suchpulley in peripheral pressure engagement with the lateral peripheralsurface of the drive pulley 4|, and whereby the common turret support 9|for all said idler pulleys may be shifted laterally against the pressureof said spring I36 when any said lower pulley portion I90 is adjustablymoved into peripheral engagement with the lateral surface of said drivepulley. Therefore, anv lower pu ley portion I90 of any operativelyposition d one of said idler pulleys, engages said drive pulley with asubstantially constant contact pressure which is substantially less thanwould be required if it were attempted to dispense with spring pressureas a means of ensuring driving engagement between said drive pulley andthe lower idler pulley portion.

It may be further stated that the presently disclosed drive mechanismemploying processionally movable pulleys each selectively adapted forperipheral engagement with the drive pulley 4|, is commerciallysuccessful largely because of the utilization of spring pressure toyieldably maintain a desired degree of pressure engagement between thedrive pulley and the lower idler pulley portion, since in quantityproduction commercial tolerances must be greater than can be otherwiseemployed.

The degree of pressure engagement between the idler wheel and the upperpuley portion of any operatively positioned idler pulleys is ensured inthe present embodiment of my invention by the floating nature of thesupport for the idler wheel and the presence of a biasing spring at I5,Figs. 1 to '7 and I50 in Figs. 8, et seq.

A spring I50, its two ends respectively connected to the slide at I50aand to a pin I501), the latter carried by the frame plate 3, biases thewheel toward its operative position in the manner previously describedfor the spring I! of the first said embodiment.

Both of the plates are provided with corresponding relatively superposedarcuately directed openings I08 and I09 respectively for the plates I28and Ill, and for the purpose, and in the manner, previously describedfor the arcuate opening 48 of the handle plate 26 of the first describedembodiment, said openings being closely in vertical alignment at alltimes to provide a vertical passage for the motor shaft 40 and itsupwardly disposed pulley portion H, the motor M being carried by thecommon supporting frame-plate 3 in the manner previously described forsaid first embodiment.

The two superposed relatively actuating plate I28 and actuated turretplate 9| being both journalled for swinging adjustment movement on thetubular flange IIIb, Fig. 19, of the assembly illustrated in Fig. 20,are prevented from vertical operating movement at a portion of theirmarginal edges with respect to the swinging axis 92 from the drivepulley 4| by the provision of a,

bifurcated end portion I 03 of a vertically stepped sheet metal partI02, the lowermost end thereof being secured to the upper side of theframe plate 3 by a screw I04 and the relatively elevated forks I06overhanging the border portion of the said superposed plates which islaterally aligned with the axis of swinging, the axis of the pulley M,and the axis of any operatively positioned idler pulley.

The detent pin I44b which is adapted to, be laterally reciprocatedduring adjustment movements of the plates I28 and 9|, is disposedbetween said forks I06 of said retaining member I02. The part I02 has noother function than to engage by the lower surfaces of its said forks,the uppermost surface of the uppermost adjustment plate 9I to preventup-tilting of said plates whose relatively opposing surfaces arepreferably in face to face engagement.

The idler pulleys and any other parts of the mechanism which are thesecond embodiment of my invention, are constructed and operate in themanner substantially as will be understood from the description of thecorresponding parts of the said first embodiment.

With respect to the detent notches I23 of the uppermost turret plate andthe correspondingly located notches I24 of the lowermost handle plateI28, the notches I24 are each provided with relatively more divergentside edge portions than are the notches I23 of the turret plate althoughthe differently formed'notches for said different plates are ofsubstantially the same depth. Therefore, the notches I24 aresubstantially wider in their portions nearest the arcuately formedborder edge I 28a of the plate I28 than are the corresponding outermostportions of the notches I23 whose sides are more nearly parallel witheach other. By virtue of this dissimilarity in the width of theoutermost portions of the notches of the two plates, when the turretplate is adjustably swung as a result of an adjustment swinging movementof the handle plate I28 whenever during such movement any of the idlerpuli leys closely approach their finally adjusted operative position,the detent pin Illb which is carried on the lever I, cannot enter any ofthe notches I20 until the pin 4"!) is directly in alignment with therelatively narrow entrance to one of the notches I23, of the turretplate, and until this occurs, the upward projection 93 of the handleplate I28 is tractively engaged with that inner edge portion of thecircular opening 94 of the turret plate 9I which is disposed in the pathof adjustment movement of said projection 93; in other words, theprojection 93 engages that portion of the inner edge of the circularopening 94 which is indicated at Ma, Fig. 15, whenever the turret isadjustably moved by the handle plate member I28 when its handle end I28cis being moved in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow at r,Fig. 15. and whenever the adjustment movement is proceeding in thedirection opposite to that indicated by the arrow 1:, Fig. 15, the pointof engagement between said projection 93 will be at 94b, Fig. 15, untilthe detent pin I b is snapped into a notch I23.

As soon as the spring I36 snaps the pin Illb into one of the-narrowernotches I 23, said pin is snapped inwardly by the spring I36, the pinwill make camming engagement with one of the more divergent sides of thenotch I 24 to enter said notch with the relatively superposed notch I23of the turret plate, and with the further result that the upwardprojection 93 of the handle plate will be snapped back to themid-position within the circular opening 94 of the turret plate 9| asillustrated in Figs. 8. 9 and 10. The snapping of the pin Illb into thedual notches of the two plates with a striking blow by said pin againstthe bottoms of said notches to lock said plat's against rotation oftheir interlocked notch portions, which thus are radially aligned withthe pin Il lb, produces a distinct, audible click" so that an operatoradjusting the apparatus from one driving speed to another is audiblyapprised of the fact, and moreover, is apprised of the fact when theadjustment movement of. the handle plate I28 is from one extreme to anopposite extreme adjustment position since the movement of the springpressed pin into the intermediate pair of superposed notches momentarilyretards the adjustment movement to a degree which makes the retardationnoticeable.

After said interlocking of the plates I28 and 9I, said pin IMb isoutwardly displaceable in response to rotative movement of the handleplate I28 during the initial period thereof while the projection 93 ismoving towards engagement with one of the opposite edges of the aperture94 of the plate 9|, since during that period, one or the z m pin is ininterlocking engagement with the inner end edge portion of any of saidnotches.

When said plates are being adjustably swung to position any lower pulleyportion I90 of any said idler pulley in its operative position whereinit engages the lateral surface of the drive pulley 4|, the said pulleyis moved laterally as a result of camming peripheral engagement of saidlower pulley portion with the stationary relatively immovable drivepulley lI, such lateral movement being also imposed upon the two platesand is yieldably opposed by said spring I38 acting through the lever I.

Therefore, although the lateral spacing between the swinging axis 92 ofsaid plates and the axes of said idler pulleys is always the samethroughout all adjustment movements, means are here provided whichoperate to permit both said plates and their swinging journal I I lb, tobe unitarily moved in opposite horizontal directions, which directionsof horizontal movement are aligned with the major axis of elongatedopening and are transverse with respect to the direction of adjustmentmovement of said idler pulleys.

The spring I38 therefor .permits the lower pulley portions I90 of theidler pulleys to ride over the said drive pulley 4| but ensures such apulley portion will peripherally engage said drive pulley with such adefinite degree of pressure engagement which is communicated to theoperatively adjusted one of said idler pulleys 65, 68 or 61 by saidspring.

Such pressure engagement is supplemented to someextent by the pressureof thespring I50 which maintains the peripheryof the friction wheel I0in pressure engagement with the upper pulley portion of an operativelypositioned idler pulley, said spring I50 being preferably a much lighterspring than the spring I38, the latter exerting an increased force sinceit operates through a lever I, which is a lever of the second class.

With respect to the first described embodiment of my invention which isillustrated in Figs. 1 v

to 7 herein, my present application is a continuation of my previouslyfiled and presently co-pending application, Serial No. 83,665, filedMarch 26, 1949.

It will be noted that in both embodiments of my invention the means forselectively pre-determining the speed at which the turntable shall berotated comprises a handle which is adjustably movable in a path ofuniform directional nature throughout and in the forms shown said pathtends arcuately being the path of a pivoted other of the more obtuselyinclined side edges of the then pin containing notches I24 of the handleplate, makes camming engagement with same to move it radially outwardbeyond the radial extent of the relatively superposed notches I23 of theplate 9|.

As previously stated, the spring pressed lever I through the pin lb,creates a pressure effort upon the plates I28 and 9| which is directedfrom said pin along a line which includes the swinging axis 92 of theplates I28 and 9|, and this pressure tends to move said plateshorizontally whether the pin "4b is riding upon the arcuate edgeportions of the plates or when said handle and the operator. therefore,is not required to move said handle in a path, the direction ofadjustment movement being abruptly changed at intermediate portions ofsaid path, as previously proposed for prior plural speed mechamsms.

Having described two embodiments of my invention, whereof the seconddescribed embodiment is at present preferred by me, I am aware thatnumerous and extensive departures may be made from the embodimentsherein illustrated and described but which come within the purview of myinvention as distinguished from prior znechanisms and I therefore claimas my inven- 1. In a frictional drive mechanism for a phonograph recordsupporting turntable of the type which is characterized by the turntablehaving a pendant annular flange adapted for lateral frictionalengagement by a friction wheel of the mechanism, comprising incombination, a frame for unitarily supporting all parts of the mech--anism, said parts comprising a motor and an upwardly extending driveshaft therefor, said shaft affording an upwardly located drive pulley, afriction final drive wheel having a rim of frictional material which issubstantially sound-insulating, a laterally movable mount affording ajournal adapting said wheel for rotation upon a vertical axis, at leastthree idler pulleys each having a pair of co-axial relatively superposedupper and lower pulley portions, and the ratio of diameters of said pairof pulley portions for different of said pulleys, being different, acommon carrier affording separate laterally interspaced journals foreach said idler pulley, said idler pulleys being thereby adapted forrotation upon relatively parallel interspaced vertical axes on saidcarrier, which is adjustably movable to processionally move said pulleysto successively different positions which are interspaced at intervalsin a single path of pulley movements, said 'path being of likedirectional nature throughout, and one such position of said path beinga common operating position for said pulleys, wherein the respectiveupper and lower portions of an operatively positioned pulley arerespectively disposed in peripheral engagement with said wheel rim andsaid drive shaft pulley respectively, spring means operative toresilientlyand yieldably, dispose and maintain said lower and upperpulley portions of any such operatively adjusted pulley in peripheralspring-pressed engagement respectively with the peripheries of saidshaft pulley and of said wheel, said path of processional pulleymovements extending longitudinally between opposite terminal portionsdisposed in interspaced relation to a vertical plane which includes theaxes of said wheel and of said drive pulley, and the intermediateportion of said path being in intersecting relation to that portion ofsaid plane which is interposed between said wheel and drive pulley axes,and said operative pulley position being located substantially closelyto said intersection of said path and said levels, a pluralitycomprising at least three idlerpulleys, a common laterally adjustablemount for all said idler pulleys, a laterally movable mount for saidwheel, said wheel and all of said pulleys being rotatable on relativelyparallel, and laterally interspaced vertical axes, each of said idlerpulleys having a pair of co-axial, relatively superposed lower and upperpulley portions, the said lower pulley portions thereof being disposedat the level of the peripheral surface of said 1 drive pulley and theupper of said pulley portions being, disposed at the level of theperiphery of said wheel, speed selecting means comprising an adjustablemember movable to laterally move said pulley mount to differentpositions to effect processional movements of said idler pulleys in a 7l8 erative position wherein peripheral engagement of its said lowerpulley portion is eflected with said drive pulley and wherein peripheralengagement between its said upper pulley portion and the periphery ofsaid wheel is concurrently achieved, at least those pulley portions ofdifferent of said idler pulleys which are at a common one of said levelsbeing of such diameters that when diflerent of said pulleys arefrictionally driven by said drive pulley, said wheel will be caused torotate at different rotational rates, the peripheral portions of saidlower pulley portions and of said wheel being of resilient, cushioningfriction material which is substantially resistant to the transmissionof tonal vibrations, spring means adapted to directionally resilientlyexert pressure upon each of said mounts, said spring means adapted toyieldably maintain said lower and upper pulley portions of any selectedone of said pulleys which is adjusted to said operative position,respectively in yleldable spring-pressed engagement with said peripheralsurface of said drive pulley and with said wheel, and'said wheel havinga portion of its peripheral surface so laterally disposed with referenceto said parts of the mechanism as to permit such positioning of saidmounting plate as to effect peripheral engagement of said wheel withsaid inwardly facing surface of the pendant flange of a turntableterminal points at opposite sides of a vertical continuous path ofmovement which is of direck, the upper pulley portionof any saidoperatively plane which includes the rotational axes of said wheel andsaid drive pulley and said path intersecting said plane at a portiondisposed between the peripheral surfaces of said wheel and drive-pulley.

3. A plural-speed drive mechanism for phonograph turntable ofthe'general type characterized by the provision of a pendant annularflange, comprising a mounting plate to which all parts of the mechanismare unitarily secured, said parts comprising a motor having a drivingshaft affording an upwardly extending drive pulley portion rotatable ona vertical axis, a laterally shiftable drive wheel having a frictionrim, a laterally adjustable lever pivotally connected at a first portionthereof to said plate and having another relatively laterallyinterspaced carrier portion, at least three pulley elements separatelyjournalled for rotation on vertical axes in laterally interspacedpositions upon said carrier portion with their axes disposedequidistantly from said first pivoted portion, each said element having,an upper and a lower pulley portion with all of the set of upperportions being at a common level at which the wheel rim is disposed, andall of the set of lower portions being disposed at a commonrelatively'lower level of said drive pulley portion, said lever adaptedfor swinging movement to any of three successively disposed lateralpositions to processionally move said elements in such a path of uniformdirectional nature that said upper and lower pulley portions of eachsuccessively disposed of said elements, are successively disposable inan operative position of peripheral engagement respectively with saidwheel rim and with the pulley portion of said shaft, a horizontallymovable mount member aifording a journal upon which said wheel isrotatable about a vertical axis,

spring means adapted to exert a constant effort upon said wheel mounttending to yieldably maintain-the wheel rim in peripheral engagementwith positioned element, and said spring means comprising means adaptedto yieldably maintain the lower pulley portion of said operativelyadjusted element in peripheral engagement with the pulley portion ofsaid shaft, the ratio of diameters of the pulley portions for each pullebeing different from that of other of said pulleys, and a portion of theperiphery of said wheel, which is circumferentially substantiallyinterspaced from that portion thereof which is engageable with saidupper pulley element portion, being adapted for driving engagement withthe inwardly facing annularhr concave surface of said pendant flange ofa turntable in response to positioning of said mounting plate withrespect to said turntable, said path of processional pulley movementsextending lengthwise between opposite terminal portions disposed ininterspaced relation to a vertical plane which includes the axes of saidwheel and of said drive pulley, and the intermediate portion of saidpath being in intersecting relation to that portion of said plane whichis interposed between said wheel and drive pulley axes, and saidoperative pulley position being located substantially closely to saidintersection of said path and said plane,

4. In I a unitary plural-speed friction drive mechanism adapted to drivea phonograph turntable at any selected one of a plurality of differentrotational speeds comprising a frame, a final drive friction wheeldisposable in peripheral friction engagement with the inner annularsurface of a pendant turntable flange, a motor, a vertical rotatabledrive shaft for said motor comprising a friction drive pulley, theperiphery of said wheel being disposed at a higher level than that ofsaid drive pulley, a laterally adjustable idler pulley carrier, apluralit comprising not less than three laterally interspaced idlerfriction pulleys, each being independently journalledfor rotation abouta vertical axis on said carrier, a horizontally movable wheel mount onwhich said friction wheel is journalled for rotation about a verticalaxis, said motor, said mount and said carrier being supported by saidframe, a laterally movable adjustment member, said carrier beinglaterally adjustably movable in response to adjustment movements of saidmember, to effect concurrent processional movements of all said pulleysin a common path of movement which is directionally of substantiallyuniform nature throughout its length, and a medial portion of which pathbeing disposed in intersecting relation to a portion of a vertical planewhich is disposed between the vertical axes of said wheel and drivepulley, said vertical plane including said wheel and drive pulley axes,whereby any of said idler pulleys may be selectively disposed at acommon operative position. in the region of intersection, of said pathand plane whereat any one of said pulleys, selected by positioning saidmember in a particular one of a plurality of adjustment positions, islaterally interposed between said drive shaft pulley and the peripheryof said wheel, each of said pulleys comprising one of a set of lowermostpulley portions and also one of a set of upper pulley portions, thelower set of pulley portions being disposed at the level of said drivepulley and those of the other set being disposed at the level of theperiphery of said wheel, whereby said wheel periphery and said drivepulley may be respectively engaged by an upper and a lower of saidpulley portions of an operatively positioned selected idler pulley, thedifferent pulle portions of one of said sets bein of respectivelydiffering diameters, and spring means for resiliently and yieldablymaintaining upper and lower pulley portions in the case of dif- 20 withsaid drive pulley, of the respective upper and lower pulley portions ofany said operatively positioned idler pulley.

5. In a drive mechanism for aphonograph turntable of the type having apendant annular flange, the combination with a frame plate supportingall parts of the mechanism, said parts comprising an electric motor, adrive pulley rotated by said motor, at least three idler pulleys, and afinal drive wheel, said drive pulley being disposed at a lower levelthan the periphery of said wheel, said drive pulley, wheel, and idlerpulleys, being each rotatable on a different vertical axis, each of saidpulleys having a pair of axially aligned upper and lower pulley portionswhich are respectively disposed at the level of the periphery of saidwheel and at the level of said drive pulley, a laterally adjustablesupport upon which said idler pulleys are journalled in successivelylaterally interspaced relation, a laterally movable mount for saidwheel, the said pulleys in a single common operative position,

spring means resiliently and yieldably maintaining frictional drivingengagement between said drive pulley and the said lower pulley portionof an operatively disposed idler pulley, further spring means exerting abiasing, laterally directed pressure efiort on said wheel mount toeffect and maintain frictional driving engagement between the peripheryof said wheel and the said upper pulley portion of any operativelypositioned pulley, and said wheel being of substantially greaterdiameter than any of said upper pulley portions, and said processionalpulley movements being in a path of movement laterally betweensubstantially widely interspaced terminal points located at oppositesides of a vertical plane which includes the axes of rotation of saidwheel and said drive pulley, and said path of processional movementbeing intermediately in intersecting relation to a portion of said planewhich is located between said axes.

6. The friction drive mechanism substantially as set forth in claim 4characterized by said carrier being in the form of a plate horizontallyad justably swingable about an axial portion of the plate and said idlerpulleys being arranged arcuately in laterally interspaced relation toeaih other, and each thereof being equi-distant from said swinging axis,and said carrier plate when swung adapted to processionally move saididler pulleys in a substantially arcuate path of movement to adjustablydispose any of said idler pulleys in engagement with said drive pulleyat a side thereof which is remote from the swinging axis of the carrier,and said plate having a portion cut away at that side of the idlerpulleys which is disposed toward said swinging axis, said motor shaftbeing projected upwardly through said cut away portion.

7. The friction drive mechanism substantially as set forth in claim 4characterized by said carrier and said manually operable means beingsuch respective engagement with said wheel and loosely interlocked sothat the carrier may be sponsive to any adjustment movement of saidcarrier which has become effective to place any of said wheel pulleys inthe recited operative position.

8. The drive mechanism substantially as set forth in claim characterizedby said idler pulley support being in the form of a lever plate andbeing journalled for lateral swinging movement about a portion thereofwhich is substantially equidistant-from the axis of rotation of each ofsaid idler pulleys, and said actuating member adapted to swing saidlever plate to dispose any of said idler pulleys in its recitedoperative position.

9. The drive mechanism substantially as set forth in claim 5characterized by the provision of spring pressed indexing means adaptedto yieldably arrest movement of said idler pulley support responsive topositioning of any of said idler pulleys in the recited operativeposition.

10. A plural-speed friction drive mechanism for driving a phonographturntable of the type having an annular flange, comprising a frictionwheel having a tread of rubber or like material, a laterally movablemount affording a journal on which said wheel may rotate on a verticalaxis, a plurality of friction pulley elements, a rotatable at that sideof a medial portion of said path which is nearest said axial portion ofsaid mount.

11. A plural-speed friction drive mechanism friction thread disposed ata higher second level,

motor shaft having a pulley portion disposed at a lower level than saidwheel tread, said elements each provided with relatively upper and lowerc0- axial pulley portions which in the case of different of saidelements are in diametrically different ratios to each other, and whichupper and lower portions are respectively disposed at the respectivelevels of said wheel tread and said shaft portion, a common mount uponwhich said elements are journaled in laterally interspaced relation,said common mount adapted for movement to different adjustment positionsin respective of which a different of said elements is disposed in anoperative position wherein its said upper portion is frictionallyengaged with said wheel tread, and wherein its said lower portion isfrictionally engaged with said shaft pulley portion, a frame upon whichsaid shaft, wheel and elements are secured in unitary relation, saidwheel being so disposed on said frame that said frame may be so disposedwith reference to a phonograph turntable as to place the wheel tread indriving enga'gement with a lateral surface of an annular,

flange of a turntable, and spring means exerting resilient laterallydirected efforts on said mounts, to resiliently maintain the respectiveportions of an operatively positioned element in'concurrent frictionalengagement with said wheel tread and with said shaft portionrespectively, and to resiliently resist displacement of said wheel treadfrom engagement with an associated turntable flange, said common mountbeing swingable about an axial portion thereof, said pulley elementsbeing disposed in relatively equidistant relation to said axial portion,and being processionally movable, in response to swinging movements ofsaid mount about said axial portion, in an arcuate path ofadjustmentmovement, and said shaft pulley portion being adjacentiy disposed alaterally movable mount upon which said wheel is journalled for rotationabout a vertical axis, a lever having an actuator portion adapted to beoppositely laterally swung in an arcuate path of movement to any of aplurality of stations in said path, a laterally movable carrier, aplurality of idler pulley elements, each separately journailed inrelatively interspaced relation to each other on said carrier, each ofsaid elements having an upper and a lower pulley portion the diametricalratio between which being different in the case of different of saidelements, said portions being respectively disposed at said second andsaid first levels, said carrier being laterally movable in response tosuccessive station-to-station movements of said lever in the samedirection to processionally move said pulley elements to effectsequential operative engagement concurrently by the respective upper andlower portions of each with said wheel tread and said shaft portion,spring means adapted to resiliently yield-- ably maintain such operativeengagement with respect to the said portions of any such engaged one ofsaid elements, and a frame to which said shaft, wheel mount, carrier andlever are secured in unitary relation, said wheel tread so disposed asto be engageable with a lateral surface of a turntable flange to drivethe turntable, said carrier being swingably movable by said lever, aboutan axial portion thereof, said pulley elements being disposed inrelatively equidistant relation to said axial portion, and the said drivshaft being adjacently disposed at that side of a medial portion of thepath of prooessional movement of said elements which is nearest the saidaxial portion of said carrier.

12. A plural-speed friction drive mechanism for driving a phonographturntable, having an annular flange, at different speeds, comprising avertical motor shaft having an upper pulley portion, a final drive wheelhaving a friction tread which is disposed at a higher level than saidshaft pulley portion, and being adapted to be peripherally engaged witha flange of a turntable, a laterally movable mount affording a journalupon which said wheel is rotatable about ..a vertical axis, a laterallyadjustable pulley carrier, a plurality o'f idler pulley elementsjournalled in interspaced relation on said carrier for rotation, each ona vertical axis, each of said idler elements having relatively upper andlower pulley portions, the relative diameters of the said pulleyportions of different of said idler elements being substantiallydifferent, said upper and lower idler element portions beingrespectively disposed at the level of said wheel tread and-at the levelof said shaft pulley portion, spring means biasing said wheel mount toyieldably force said wheel tread toward said elements, and said carrierbeing adjustably movable to different successive stations in a path ofmovement to dispose different of said elements in an operative positionin response to positioning of said carrier at the different stations,and each said operatively positioned element being in engagement by itsupper portion with said wheel tread, and

by its lower portion with said shaft pulley porphonograph turntables ofthe pendant tubular flanged type, comprising a friction wheel, aplurality of pulleys, and a motor shaft affording a pulley surface, saidwheel, said pulleys, and said shaft Journalled to rotate on verticalaxes, said wheel being disposable in peripheral frictional engagementwith an inner surface of a turn table flange, each of said pulleyshaving an upper and a relatively co-axial lower pulley portion, adaptedto be interchangeably selectively interposed between, and in concurrentperipheral engagement by its respective upper and lower portions, withsaid wheel and said shaft pulley sur face, the relative diameters of thesaid upper .and lower pulley portion for different of said pulleysbeingv in different ratios, and manually operable adjustment meansadapted for difiering adjustment movements, to selectively position anyof said pulleys in its operative position wherein its said upper andlower pulley portion is frictionally engaged respectively with theperiphery of said wheel, and with the pulley surface of said shaft, saidpulleys being adjustably processionally movable in an arcuate path ofmovement, all of whose portions being relatively concentric, and saidshaft having its portion affording a pulleysurface being disposedadjacent to the concave Side of said path of movement which is disposednearest the center of concentricity of said path.

, 14. A plural-speed friction, drive mechanism for peripherally flangedphonograph turntables, comprising a final drive wheel having a frictiontread adapted for engagement with a turntable flange, a laterallymovable mount affording an upstanding journal post for said wheel, aspring so located and so applied to said wheel mount as to tend toretractively roll the wheel tread on an engaged turntable flange, alaterally shiftable support and a plurality of laterally interspacedupstanding journal posts thereon, a vertical motor shaft having a pulleyportion disposed at a lower level than the level of said wheel tread, aplurality of pulley elements, each having an upper and a lower pulleyportion, different of said elements journalled on different posts ofsaid support, the ratio of diameters of the respective upper and lowerportions in the case of different of said elements, being different,said support being adjustably laterally movable in either of twoopposite directions to different adjustment positions to selectivelydispose any of said elements in an operative position whereby its lowerpulley portion is frictionally engaged with said shaft portion, andwhereby concurrently an upper pulley portion thereof is frictionallyengaged with said wheel tread, and a second spring associated with saidpulley support and yieldably urging said support in a direction'lateralto its direction of movement to resiliently maintain the said lowerpulley portion of an oper'atively positioned pulley elementin'frictional engagement with said shaft pulley portion, and said wheeltread being concurrently resiliently maintained in engagement with the24 upperpulley portion of the same element, said support being in theform of a lever adjustably swingable about an axial portion and having aswingably movable portion on which said elements are journalled withtheir axes disposed in equidistant relation to said axial portion of thelever, said elements being processionally movable in response toswinging adjustment movements of said lever support in an arcuate pathof movement whose medial portion is disposed adjacently beyondsaidvshaft pulley portion, with respect to said axial portion of saidsupport.

15. A selective plural speed friction drive mechanism for phonographturntables having an annular flange, comprising a vertical motor shaftaffording a pulley end portion, a plurality of relatively laterallydisposed friction drive pulley elements, movable mount means adaptingsaid elements for lateral shifting movement, a wheel having a frictiontread and a movable mount therefor adapting it for lateral movements,said wheel being so disposable as to effect engagement of its tread witha phonograph turntable flange, each of said elements having an upper anda lower pulley portion which are respectively disposed at the levels ofsaid tread and said shaft portion, the ratio of relative diameters ofsaid pulley portions, in the case of different of said elements, beingsubstantially different, adjustment means having an actuating memberadapted to be adjustably moved from and to, different relativelyinterspaced stations located in a path of movement which is of likedirectional nature throughout said mount means for said elements beingso laterally movable, in response to station-to-station adjustmentmovements of said actuating member, as to effect disengagement from saidwheel tread and from said shaft portion, of the upper and lower pulleyportions, respectively. of any one of said elements whose said portionshave been, respectively, previously engaged therewith, and in responseto the same adjustment movement of said member, said mount means beingso disposed as to effect engagement of the respective upper and lowerpulley portions of another of said elements with said wheel tread andsaid shaft pulley portion respectively, spring means adapted toyieldably apply a laterally directed resilient efiort tending tomaintain said wheel tread in engagement with an upper pulley portion ofan operatively positioned one of said elements, and concurrently adaptedto yieldably oppose lateral displacement of said wheel, by the effect ofthe engagement of its tread with any thereby engaged turntable flange,and said mount means comprising a support rotatable about an axialportion thereof, and said elements being so disposed in relativelyinterspaced relation, on a portion of the support which is swingableabout said axial portion, as to be relatively equidistant therefrom, andsaid elements being processionally movable in a path of movement whosemedial portion is located adjacently beyond said end portion of saidshaft with respect to the said axial portion of said mount meanssupport.

16. A plural-speed friction drive mechanism for driving a phonographturntable of the type havmg an annular flange, comprising a frictionwheel having a tread of rubber or like material, a laterally movablemount affording a journal on which said wheel may rotate on a verticalaxis, a plurality of friction pulley elements, a rotatable motor shafthaving a pulley portion disposed at a lower level than said wheel tread,said elements each provided with relatively upper and lower co-axialpulley portions which in the case of different of said elements are indiametrically diiferent ratios to each other, and which upper and lowerportions are respectively disposed at the respective levels of saidwheel tread and said shaft portion, a common mount upon which saidelements are journalled in laterally interspaced relation, said commonmount adapted for movement differently of a plurality of adjustmentpositions in respective of which a different of said elements isdisposed in an operative position wherein its said upper portion isfrictionally engaged with said wheel tread, and wherein its said lowerportion is frictionally engaged with said shaft portion, a frame uponwhich said shaft, wheel and elements are secured in unitary relation,said wheel being so disposed on said frame that said frame may be sodisposed with reference to a phonograph turntable as to place the wheeltread in driving engagement with a lateral surface of an annular flangeof a turntable, and spring means exerting resilient later ally directedefforts on said mounts, to resiliently maintain the respective portionsof an operatively positioned element in concurrent frictional engagementwith said wheel tread and with said shaft pulley portion respectively,and to resiliently resist displacement of said wheel tread fromengagement with an associated turntable flange, the said common mountfor said elements being so movable, and said elements being sosuccessively disposed on said mount in the direction of its movement asto be relatively processionally movable in a path of movement whichextends longitudinally from one side to an opposite side of a verticalplane in which the rotational axes of said wheel and of said shaft arelocated and extending in intersecting relationto a portion of said planewhich is disposed between portions of said wheel tread and of said shaftpulley portion which are in most closely laterally interspaced relation.

1'7. The drive mechanism for phonograph turntables having an annularflange, a wheel having a peripheral friction tread adapted forperipheral engagement with a turntable flange, a laterally movable mountfor said wheel, a motor'and a vertically extending drive shaft thereof,a plurality of idler pulleys each having upper and lower portions inrespectively different diametrical ratios, a pulley end portion of saidshaft and said lower portions of said idler pulleys being disposed at acommon level which is lower than the common level of said wheel treadand said upper pulley portions, an idler pulley supporting leverjournalled by a relatively axial portion and having a relativelyswingable portion on which said pulleys are journalled in ,arcuatelyinterspaced relation, said pulleys being rotatable on separate verticalaxes which are relatively equidistant from said axial lever portion andbeing processionally movable in response to swinging movements of thelever in a path of movement which is concentric with said lever axialportion, said drive shaft pulley end being disposed between a medialportion of said path and said lever axial portion, and adjacent to theradially inner side of the path to cause it to engage the said lowerpulley portion of any idler pulley which is disposed in the said medialportion thereof, a spring biasing said wheel by its said mount toposition its tread for peripheral engagement with the upper pulleyportion of any 26 said idler pulley whose lower portion is engaged withthe pulley end portion of said shaft.

18. Plural speed friction drive mechanism for driving a phonographturntable of the type having an annular flange, comprising a frictionwheel having a rubber or like tread, a laterally movable mounton whichsaid wheel is journalled for rotation on a vertical axis, a plurality ofidler pulleys each of which having a pair of respectively upper andlower co-axial portions which in the case of different pulleys are indifferent diametrical ratios, a motor having a vertical shaft whoseupper portion affords a drive Pulley, said wheel and drive pulley beingeach disposed to rotate on a vertical axis at the respective levels ofsaid upper and said lower idler pulley portions, a pair of relativelysuperposed co-axially pivoted levers, a lost-motion interconnectingmeans for communicating swinging movement from a lower relativelyactuating one of said levers to an upper most relatively actuated onethereof, locking means operable in response to discontinuance ofswinging movement of said actuating lever to interlock both of saidlevers in any one of such a plurality of relatively interspacedpositions, which is at least equal to the number of said idler pulleys,said idler pulleys being journalled for rotation about .difierentvertical axes, on relatively laterally interspaced portions of saiduppermost relatively actuated lever, said idler pulleys beingprocessionally movable, in response to swinging movements imparted tothe said uppermost relatively actuated lever, in an arcuate path ofmovement in all portions of which said idler pulleys are alikeequidistant from the pivotal axis of said levers, said drive pulleybeing disposed at the side, of an intermediate portion of said path,which is nearest said pivotal axis, and being successively engageablewith the said lower portion of successive of said pulleys in response toa complete swinging movement of said actuated lever between oppositeextreme positions thereof, and said actuating lever adapted to disablesaid interlocking means in response to any following swinging movementof the said actuating lever in either direction after interlocking ofsaid levers by said locking means, and spring means exerting a resilienteffort on said wheel, to dispose its said tread at that side of saidpath of idler wheel movement which is opposite to that side at whichsaid drive pulley is disposed and to efiect springpressed engagement bysaid tread with an upper portion of any idler pulley whose said lowerportion is concurrently engaged with said drive pulley.

19. The drive mechanism substantially as set forth in claim 18 whereinsaid locking means for said levers comprises correspondingly radiallydisposed arcuately laterally interspaced, notched portions of bothlevers, indexing detent means comprising a detent dog positionedadiacently to the path of movement of all said notched portions, andresilient means urging said dog in a direction for projecting it into anassociated pair of said notches of respective of said levers, inresponse to swinging movement of the levers to index said pair ofnotches to radial alignment with said dog, the notches of the saidactuating of said levers having substantially more outwardly divergentside edges and having their extremities more widely interspaced than theassociated notches of the said actuated lever, and said lost motioninterconnecting means permitting said actuating lever to swingably moveto a suflicient degree at the outset of each swinging movement actuatinglever is communicated to said actuated lever by the said lost motioninterconnecting means.

20. A plural-speed friction drive mechanism for driving a phonographturntable of the type having an annular flange, comprising a frictionwheel having a tread of rubber or like material, a laterally movablemount aflordinga journal on which said wheel may rotate on-a verticalaxis, a plurality of idler pulley elements, a rotatable motor driveshaft having a pulley portion disposed at a lower level than said wheeltread, said elements each provided with relatively upper and lowerco-axial pulley portions which in the case of different of said elementsare in diametrically different ratios to each other, and which upper andlower portions are respectively disposed at the respective levels ofsaid wheel tread and said shaft portion, laterally adjustable mountmeans upon which said elements are journalled in laterally interspacedrelation, said common mount means adapted for movement to any of atleast as many adjustment positions as there are idler pulley elements,in different of which positions a different of said elements is solaterally disposed in an operative position wherein its said 28toadjustmentmovements of said mount means, in a path of movement whichis like directional movement throughout its length and which extendsfrom relatively widely interspaced opposite end portions to a medialportion whereat said path is in transverse intersecting relation to thatintermediate portion of a vertical plane which includes the axes of saidwheel and shaft, and which intermediate portion of said frame isdisposed between said wheel tread and said shaft, a frame upon whichsaid shaft, wheel mount, and mount means, are secured in unitaryrelation, said wheel being so disposed on said frame that said frame maybe so disposed with reference to a photograph turntable as to place thewheel tread in driving engagement with a lateral surface the armularflange of such a turntable, and spring means exerting resilientlaterally directed efforts on said mount and said mount means, toresiliently maintain the respective said upper and lower portions of anoperatively positioned eleupper portion is caused to be frictionallyperipherally engaged with said wheel tread, and wherein its said lowerportion is frictionally peripherally engaged with said shaft portion,said idler pulleys being processionally movable, in response ment inconcurrent frictional engagement with said wheel tread and with saidshaft portion respectively, and to resiliently resist displacement ofsaid wheel tread from engagement with an associated turntable flange. I1

PAUL STEAD GAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES BATENTS Germany Jan. 2'7, 192'?

